The Centre for Environmental Engineering and Biodiversity of Ciego de Ávila (CIBA) maintains and increases its interest in the development of research in the Great Northern Wetland of Ciego de Ávila, declared a Ramsar Site in 2002 for its values of international importance and classified as a Protected Area of Managed Resources (APRM), which covers an area of 226,875 hectares and areas corresponding to five of the 10 Avilanian municipalities.

At the National Coordinating Board for Protected Areas, the Deputy Director of Scientific Research at CIBA Cuba, Javier Gonzalez Garcia, referred particularly to the management and control of water resources.

He addressed matters related to the execution of strategic hydraulic works, the installation of automatic equipment for the control of surface and underground waters, as well as precipitation volumes, which allows for decisions to be made aimed at protecting the aquifers and planning consumption for economic and social activities.

González García also presented elements about the area’s biodiversity, highlighting the values of its avifauna, ichthyofauna, and endemic flora.

During his presentation, he underlined the main ecosystem services offered by the GHNA and the execution of hazard, vulnerability, and risk studies that enable the establishment of forecasts regarding the behaviour of future scenarios in the area, which facilitates the adoption of measures to protect its natural resources.

He referred to the negative impacts as a consequence of climate change (damage from extreme hydrometeorological events, droughts, intense rains, strong winds), in addition to the harm derived from salinity and rising sea levels.

Meanwhile, he indicated that anthropogenic impacts are associated with unsustainable or poorly managed activities. In that context, actions are being executed to promote the sustainable management of this gigantic ecosystem and the scientific sector continues its investigative work.

At the aforementioned event, the Deputy Director of Scientific Research at CIBA was accompanied by Daylon Fundora Caballero, an auxiliary researcher at that institution and head of the Department of Natural Resources, Prioritised Ecosystems and Climate Change at the Avilanian Citma Environment Sub-Delegation, who likewise praised the natural values of the GHNCA and highlighted the conservation work in that area.

Taken from the CIBA Facebook profile